Mercury Theatre

The Mercury Theatre was a theatre company founded in New York City by Orson Welles and John Houseman. They had initial success in the theatre, then went to radio, and one of the most notable radio broadcasts of all time, The War of the Worlds.

Theatre

Their first production was the June 1937 staging of Marc Blitzstein's controversial labor union opera, The Cradle Will Rock." http://www.mercury-theatre.com/bio.html

Related Topics:
1937 - Marc Blitzstein - Labor union - Opera - The Cradle Will Rock

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Later that same year, beginning with assets of only $100, Welles and the Mercury company earned a reputation for their inventive adaptations of William Shakespeare's works: Julius Caesar set in contemporary Fascist Italy, and a voodoo-themed Macbeth with an exclusively African American cast. The last five minutes of a Macbeth performance survives on film; it can be downloaded from The Mercury Theatre on the Air website. (see below)

Related Topics:
William Shakespeare - Julius Caesar - Fascist - Italy - Voodoo - Macbeth - African American

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